Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-25
THANKS TO OUR GOD.
''A 10 THE ALMIGHTY FOB HIS
GRACIOUS BLESSINGS.
"O'ss and Observations on the Religious
Services Held in This City
Yesterday.

yesterday was a pleasant but not a
ulSunctively sunshiny day. Smoke.like
clouds obscured the blue heavens except
Tor few hours, but as there was no fear
Oh RAIN the weather was very good
ana ladies tearlessly ventured forth in
'nef best costumes. At the churches
SHofe services were appointed TO be
iiV'u the congregations were generally
iniGe' ana IN song and prayers and ser
mons the people made acknowledge
meht 10 the Almighty for blessings in
Vulnerable with winch He has crowded
the year
When, not long after the war. Cover
nor Walker by proclamation called upon
NNirgmans to observe the national
thanksgiving Day, there was with many
feeling Of Indignation that in the light
OF then recent events he was trying TO
set THIS New England plant in our sacred
SOL but all the same the plant took
root and grew thriftly, and now in this
city certainly, and in many other parts
OF the old Commonwealth, no doubt.
+ the observance is quite general All
l business is not suspended as at
! Christmas, but there is enough OF ccssa-
| ;lon from labor TO give the streets,
! thronged by well dressed crowds, holi-
( day appearance. But the day is not
/ specially sacred to family reunions.
Here, Christmas holds its own against
+ the new conner here, the genial day of
egg-nog, OF fpresent-giving andreceiving ;
OF Santa Claus, of houses odorous with
boily and running cedar, and streets
NOISY with crackers and horns, continues
the great day for the annual gathering at
, the family homestead. Thanksgiving is
q day of greater quiet of larger attend
anea at churches; Of more special praise
To the Lord for His bounties and Of en-
Joyment Of less boistorous character than
Christmas and il is the one holiday ON
which all who believe III God can unite
their prayers but though southern adap-
tatons OF northern ideas are cultivated
with cntreme vigOr, II Is not likely that
any man now living will see the daywhen
our population gives itself up so unani-
mou,ly 10 this day as to Christmas. Never
theloss coming 1T the inCathcring OF the
harve SITS at a season when Nature IN its
sweetness and blandness silently speaks
praise to the Giver Of Good in a land
blessed above all other lands, il is happy
medium day between the strictly-tO-be
observed Sabbath and the clamorous
Christmas, and as such has useful and
a welcome place in this huTying age.
The services at the houses Of worship
were all interesting. and Of their cha
ractcr the following reports will give a
fair idea.
PTes5Sterian Union Services.
The Prcsbyteriams of Richmond gath
cred in full force at the Second church
at II o'clock. The following ministers
were present namely, Rev. Drs. Read,
Hoge. Drew, Kerr, and Revs. Howison,
Stewart, W. 4. Campbell, and j. G. An
derson.
The Great audience arose and sang
with spirit Praise God from Whom all
blessings flow, and Rev. r.. r.. Howl
son offered the prayer of invocation.
The congregation, led by the united
choirs Of the various churches, then
ioiued in singing Psalm Nc, "Our God,
onr help in ages past, followed by the
reading of Psalm cXvi. hy Mr.. Stewart.
Another hymn was sung, Salvation
Q. thc joyful Sound, and prayer offer
od 10y Rev. Dr. Drew expressive OF earn
est thanksgiving for personal and public
blessings, for peace and prosperity, for
fruitful haryestS, for exemption from
pcstileuce and famine, and for the I'M
numbered temporal and spiritual mercies
which have crowned the year from the
hand of the Giyer OF every good and per-
feet gift.
Rev. j. Calvin Stewart announced as
his text Psalm cxvi. :12, 13 "What shall
| render unto the Lord for all His bene-
fits toward me / will take the cup OF
salvation and call upon the name OF the
Lord" I'm opening the discourse the
speaker alluded TO the origin and growth
OF the day of thanksgiving. In tins
country It's earliest observance was IN the
New England States but set seasons OF
thanksgiving greatly antedate the
early days of the United States.
for the Greeks had their days OF
rejoicing and thanks, while Gods
ancient people, the Hebrews, were
notably given TO seasons OF Joy, praise,
and THANKSGIVING to cOvenant-keeplng
God. The speaker had but little sympa-
tby with the observance Of this day as
day Of feasting, but heartily commended
it as a day of religious thanksgiving ana
of sweet family reunions.
The growth and prosperity OF the peo-
plc were dwelt upon most eloquently by
The speaker and abundant reasons Tor
Thanksgiving were warmly urged.
Our great duty as a Christian nation
is TO give ourselves to the evangelizaton
of the people-not only those within our
borders. but the vast hosts that are ilocK-
inp hither from other lands each day
hundreds Of thousands every year. lhe
safety and stability of this great nation
depends upon bringing the influence OF
tLe ,ospcl of Gods dear Son to bear
mon this incoming multitude, that 1t
NAV be truly christianized. @,
II will take the cup OF salyation'
The word coup signifies wealth, ana
Gods people should take their wealth
and cali upon the name OF the Lord
The wealth of this country Is SIMPLY
startling. The old countries OF tne
World are rich: but this country, III the
morning OF its lifetime, lar eHceGus S.s
them in its gathered treasures ana today
we could buy Russia, Norway, sweden
Denmark. Turkey, Italy, Australia, oouth
America and south Africa, with all their
possessions. How shall these enormous
TTicbes be used-for the qualification OF the u {,
nsmnered ,l,n tastes Of the possessols or for 0
tLe advancement Of Gods Kingdom y,
let MS take this full cup OF salvation ani u
hold it TO the lips Of the pcrisniEg, AROUND Il,
ms ,,9'S and spread the glad tidings OF saliva
ton G1' '. throughout our land and the world d
IG LEI ms consecrate wealth, Strength
talepts and all to lead the worid u, 10
Cbriet 1'lyi.S' and md plant the standard OF the
/ Cross in every land
",rm earth rcmotes: nation
Has learned Messiah name
The hymn IAN Hail tt e Power r,'oi OF
~, ~ Nsme" was sung by the congre-
Sas Sstjon. standing, and the bensdieton Sll,,.al
prononnced by Rev. DR.. Kerr ,olt i lhniiIS ,inht